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Liquor Store's License Pulled On Drug Charge

PALATINE — The Palatine Liquor Commission on Monday evening revoked the liquor license of the Foremost Liquors store at 1266 E. Dundee Rd. after Lalu Patel, principal manager of the store, allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover Palatine police officer.

On three separate occasions in March, Patel sold cocaine in amounts ranging from a half-gram to 26 grams to the undercover officer, said Mayor Rita Mullins, who also is a liquor commissioner.

The commission on March 22 suspended Foremost's license for 90 days. The store has been closed since. Patel is identified on the liquor license as an officer of Sitaram Inc., which holds the license for the Palatine store.

In addition to accepting the license revocation, Patel has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine within 14 days, said his attorney, Matteo Rago of Park Ridge.

"Revocation was what we were ultimately seeking," said Mullins, adding that the commission has "zero tolerance" for drug dealing.

Patel also faces criminal charges in connection with the cocaine arrest, officials said.